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Biomedical subjects

E Petit

Publications and source records attributed to E Petit.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Urinary excretion of 5(10)-estrene-3beta,17alpha-diol and estrone by the female horse: complementary indicators of early pregnancy screened with regard to a putative anabolic doping practice.

Rules of horse racing stipulate that pregnant mares may compete under definite conditions of date, because early pregnant status may be misused for the sake of enhancing physical performance by putative anabolic steroid action. Screening for pregnancy is generally performed by plasma equine gonadotrophin (eCG) immunoassay, which covers the period between Days 40 and 120. In common screening for urinary anabolic steroids performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, inclusion of two complementary criteria, i.e. the evaluation of total conjugates of 5(10)-estrene-3beta,17alpha-diol (EED) and estrone (E1), can easily be performed. Although EED and E1 have no anabolic property per se in the horse, assessing these two markers may be helpful in the period comprised between Days 70 and 250, thereby prolonging the detection period behind that of eCG. Peak values of EED and E1 are then attained, so that visual inspection of chromatographic tracings remains in general sufficient as a diagnostic tool. Comparison of EED and E1 during pregnancy and in an estrus cycle indicates a drastic difference in the attained excretion values, attributable to either the placenta or the ovarian follicle. The identity of EED has been proven by GC-MS(n) in urine and in placental tissue.

Anabolic Agents↗
PubMed2007

RGTA OTR4120, a heparan sulfate mimetic, is a possible long-term active agent to heal burned skin.

Burn-related skin fibrosis leads to loss of tissue function and hypertrophic scar formation with damaging consequences for the patient. There is therefore a great need for an efficient agent to treat burned skin. We report that ReGeneraTing Agent (RGTA) reduces burn-induced skin alteration. The tissue-regenerating effect of RGTA OTR4120 was evaluated after 1-6 days and after 10 months in a rat skin burn model. This effect was also examined in vitro using fibroblasts isolated from control and 6-day-old burned skins. We measured production of dermal collagen I, III, and V and activities of metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9). Ratio of collagen III over collagen I production increased 6 days after the burn, because of a decrease in collagen I production. After 10 months, ratio of collagen III over collagen I in burn sites was still increased compared with control skin, because of an increase in collagen III production. Both abnormalities were corrected by OTR4120. OTR4120 increased pro- and active MMP-2 and MMP-9, compared with healthy and burned controls and therefore accelerated remodeling. Similar data were obtained with cultured fibroblasts from healthy and burned skins. OTR4120 enhanced healing in short- and long-term after burns, reducing the formation of fibrotic tissue, and then represents a potential agent to improve burned skin healing.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Expression of the gene encoding the pro-apoptotic BNIP3 protein and stimulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) protein following focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Hypoxia is a common cause of cell death and is implicated in many disease processes including stroke and chronic degenerative disorders. In response to hypoxia, cells express a variety of genes which allow adaptation to altered metabolic demands, decreased oxygen demands, and the removal of irreversibly damaged cells. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that regulates the adaptive response to hypoxia in cells. In this study, we reported an early, time-related, gradual up-regulation of HIF-1alpha, and a moderate increase in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)- and erythropoietin (Epo)-levels following transient focal ischemia. Moreover, we demonstrated, for the first time a specific localization of the pro-apoptotic regulator BNIP3 in striatal and cortical neurons after transient focal ischemia in rats. Prolonged intranuclear BNIP3 immunoreactivity was associated with delayed neuronal death. Experiments showed protein increases on Western blots of brain tissue with peaks at 48h after ischemia. Epo responds to ischemia in an early stage, whereas VEGF and BNIP3 accumulate in cells at later times after ischemia. This suggests the possibility that BH3-only proteins might be one of the major downstream effectors of HIF-1alpha in hypoxic cell death. These findings open the possibility that the hypoxia-regulated pro-apoptotic protein BNIP3 enters the nucleus and could interact with other proteins involved in DNA structure, transcription or mRNA splicing after focal brain ischemia.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed2006

[Imaging of a thickened-wall gallbladder].

Thickening of the gallbladder wall may result from a large spectrum of pathological conditions, intrinsic as well as extrinsic to the biliary tract, and may have different appearances. Accurate diagnosis is usually established after a correlation of imaging findings, laboratory data and clinical history. US remains the initial imaging modality for the evaluation of acute right upper quadrant pain. CT and MRI are complementary to US and have an increasing role in assessing a thickened-wall gallbladder.

Acalculous Cholecystitis↗
PubMed2006

Dispersal and genetic structure in the American marten, Martes americana.

Natal dispersal in a vagile carnivore, the American marten (Martes americana), was studied by comparing radio-tracking data and microsatellite genetic structure in two populations occupying contrasting habitats. The genetic differentiation determined among groups of individuals using F(ST) indices appeared to be weak in both landscapes, and showed no increase with geographical distance. Genetic structure investigated using pairwise genetic distances between individuals conversely showed a pattern of isolation by distance (IBD), but only in the population occurring in a homogeneous high-quality habitat, therefore showing the advantage of individual-based analyses in detecting within-population processes and local landscape effects. The telemetry study of juveniles revealed a leptokurtic distribution of dispersal distances in both populations, and estimates of the mean squared parent-offspring axial distance (sigma2) inferred both from the genetic pattern of IBD and from the radio-tracking survey showed that most juveniles make little contribution to gene flow.

Animal Migration↗
PubMed2005

Segmentation of cardiac cine-MR images and myocardial deformation assessment using level set methods.

In this paper, we present an original method to assess the deformations of the left ventricular myocardium on cardiac cine-MRI. First, a segmentation process, based on a level set method is directly applied on a 2D + t dataset to detect endocardial contours. Second, the successive segmented contours are matched using a procedure of global alignment, followed by a morphing process based on a level set approach. Finally, local measurements of myocardial deformations are derived from the previously determined matched contours. The validation step is realized by comparing our results to the measurements achieved on the same patients by an expert using the semi-automated HARP reference method on tagged MR images.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

[Imaging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma].

Pancreatic cancer remains the fourth most common cause of cancer death. Surgery remains the only option for cure. Accurate diagnosis and staging are essential for appropriate management of patients with pancreatic cancer. This paper reviews the state of the art for imaging modalities in the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The crucial role of CT has increased with the new generation of multidetector CT.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2005

Effect of exercise intensity and repetition on heart rate variability during training in elite trotting horse.

RR intervals of ten elite trotting horses were recorded during an interval training session performed on track. This study examined two hypotheses. Firstly, like in humans, the hyperpnea combined with a decrease in cardiac autonomic control on heart rate during heavy exercise could result in a prevalence of high frequency heart rate variability. Secondly, this prevalence could increase with the heavy exercise repetition. Two exercise intensities were compared: moderate (ME) and heavy (HE). Furthermore, heavy exercise repetitions were compared between the beginning and the end of the interval training session. When comparing ME and HE periods: heart rate was significantly lower (155 +/- 12 vs. 210 +/- 9 ms, p < 0.001), LF spectral energy (0.04 - 0.2 Hz) was significantly higher (ME: 6.94 +/- 4.80 and HE: 0.24 +/- 0.14 ms(2) . Hz (-1), p < 0.001) whereas HF (0.2 - 2 Hz) was significantly lower (ME: 7.09 +/- 2.24 and HE: 10.60 +/- 3.64 ms(2) . Hz (-1), p < 0.05). In relative terms, ME showed similar results in both LFn (LF/LF+HF) and HFn (HF/LF+HF) whereas HE showed a large prevalence of HFn energy compared to LFn (p < 0.001). The difference in LF/HF ratio between the two exercise conditions was significant (1.14 +/- 0.92 vs. 0.09 +/- 0.12, p < 0.001). Exercise repetition induced a significant increase in heart rate between the beginning and the end of the interval training session (207 +/- 10 beats . min (-1) vs. 212 +/- 9 beats . min (-1), p < 0.001) whereas LF energy decreases (1.54 +/- 1.65 vs. 0.32 +/- 0.24 ms(2) . Hz (-1), p < 0.01) and HF energy remained constant (10.79 +/- 4.10 vs. 10.40 +/- 3.35 ms(2) . Hz (-1), NS). This study confirmed the results observed in humans during heavy exercise conditions with a large prevalence of HF in contrast to LF, this prevalence increasing with exercise repetitions. The observed decrease in LF/HF ratio could provide an index of hyperpnea in horses during interval training.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Landscape connectivity influences gene flow in a roe deer population inhabiting a fragmented landscape: an individual-based approach.

Changes in agricultural practices and forest fragmentation can have a dramatic effect on landscape connectivity and the dispersal of animals, potentially reducing gene flow within populations. In this study, we assessed the influence of woodland connectivity on gene flow in a traditionally forest-dwelling species--the European roe deer--in a fragmented landscape. From a sample of 648 roe deer spatially referenced within a study area of 55 x 40 km, interindividual genetic distances were calculated from genotypes at 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci. We calculated two geographical distances between each pair of individuals: the Euclidean distance (straight line) and the 'least cost distance' (the trajectory that maximizes the use of wooded corridors). We tested the correlation between genetic pairwise distances and the two types of geographical pairwise distance using Mantel tests. The correlation was better using the least cost distance, which takes into account the distribution of wooded patches, especially for females (the correlation was stronger but not significant for males). These results suggest that in a fragmented woodland area roe deer dispersal is strongly linked to wooded structures and hence that gene flow within the roe deer population is influenced by the connectivity of the landscape.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Angiopoietin-1-induced PI3-kinase activation prevents neuronal apoptosis.

Although angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) is recognized as an endothelial growth factor, its presence in brain following an ischemic event suggests a role in the evolution of neuronal damage. Using primary neuronal cultures, we showed that neurons express Ang-1 and possess the functional angiopoietin-receptor Tie-2, which is phosphorylated in the presence of Ang-1. We further investigated in vitro whether Ang-1 could protect neurons against either excitotoxic necrosis or apoptosis induced by serum deprivation (SD). A neuroprotective effect for Ang-1 was detected exclusively in the apoptotic paradigm. Treatment of cells with the phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor, LY294002, inhibited Ang-1-induced phosphorylation of Akt, restored the cleavage of the effector caspase-3, and reduced the protective effect of Ang-1 against SD-induced toxicity. These findings suggest that Ang-1 has a neuroprotective effect against apoptotic stress and that this effect is dependent on the PI3-K/Akt pathway and inhibition of caspase-3 cleavage. This study provides evidence that Ang-1 is not just angiogenic but also neuroprotective. The understanding of neuroprotective mechanisms induced by Ang-1 may promote strategies based on the pleiotropic effects of angiogenic factors. Such approaches could be useful for the treatment of brain diseases in which both neuronal death and angiogenesis are involved.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents↗
PubMed2003

[Internal carotid artery dissection after Heimlich maneuver].

We report a case of cervical artery dissection following a Heimlich maneuver. Cervical artery dissections are at the present time well known and are sometimes associated with trivial traumas. However, to our knowledge, this complication of such maneuver was never reported in the literature. Pathophysiological mechanisms are discussed.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed2003

Inbreeding in the greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula.

We combined mark-and-recapture studies with genetic techniques of parentage assignment to evaluate the interactions between mating, dispersal, and inbreeding, in a free-ranging population of Crocidura russula. We found a pattern of limited and female-biased dispersal, followed by random mating within individual neighborhoods. This results in significant inbreeding at the population level: mating among relatives occurs more often than random, and F(IT) analyses reveal significant deficits in heterozygotes. However, related mating partners were not less fecund, and inbred offspring had no lower lifetime reproductive output. Power analyses show these negative results to be quite robust. Absence of phenotypic evidence of inbreeding depression might result from a history of purging: local populations are small and undergo disequilibrium gene dynamics. Dispersal is likely caused by local saturation and (re)colonization of empty breeding sites, rather than inbreeding avoidance.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Mitochondrial DNA variation along an altitudinal gradient in the greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula.

The distribution of mitochondrial control region-sequence polymorphism was investigated in 15 populations of Crocidura russula along an altitudinal gradient in western Switzerland. High-altitude populations are smaller, sparser and appear to undergo frequent bottlenecks. Accordingly, they showed a loss of rare haplotypes, but unexpectedly, were less differentiated than lowland populations. Furthermore, the major haplotypes segregated significantly with altitude. The results were inconsistent with a simple model of drift and dispersal. They suggested instead a role for historical patterns of colonization, or, alternatively, present-day selective forces acting on one of the mitochondrial genes involved in metabolic pathways.

Altitude↗
PubMed2002

Extreme sex-biased dispersal in the communally breeding, nonmigratory Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteinii).

Maternity colonies of the communally breeding, nonmigratory Bechstein's bat consist of closely related females that live together with unrelated females, and average colony relatedness is low despite the absence of immigration. We compared the genetic structure of both nuclear and mitochondrial microsatellites in order to quantify sex-specific dispersal rates. More specifically, we aimed at testing whether male dispersal is able to balance the genetic effect of strong (absolute) female philopatry. Absolute female philopatry, indicated by an extreme mitochondrial DNA population differentiation of 96%, was indeed opposed by strong (possibly complete) male dispersal. Based on our knowledge of the biology of Myotis bechsteinii, we conclude that inbreeding avoidance is likely to be the crucial factor driving male dispersal in this species.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Dissection of cervical arteries].

INDICENCE: Cervical artery dissection (CAD) is one of the major cause of cerebral infarction before 45 years of age. The average annual incidencerate is between 2.5 and 3 per 100,000, but the reported incidence of CAD is probably underestimated because of frequent asymptomatic forms, or producing only minor and local symptoms. Dissection of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is more frequent than dissection of the vertebral artery (VA) and intracranial dissection is less frequent than extracranial dissection. PATHOGENESIS: Traumas and primary diseases of the arterial wall are the main predisposing factors, but the pathogenesis of spontaneous DAC remains unknown in most cases, although the possibility of an underlying arteriopathy is suspected. CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS: The clinical presentation of ICA dissections includes isolated local signs (Homer's sign, headaches) followed by a few hours or days later by signs of cerebral or retinal ischemia. Brainstem infarcts and occipital or cervical pain are the most strinking clinical feature of VA dissection. Recent progress in neuroradiology (i.e. CT-scan, MRI, magnetic resonance ongiography) and neurosonology (i.e. transcranial Doppler) allows a non invasive approach in the diagnosis and follow-up of CAD. MANAGEMENT: The prognosis is highly variable, but remains usually good. Heparin in the acute stage, followed by an oral anticoagulant or aspirin treatment for 3 to 6 months is most commonly used, although it has never been proved by a randomized trial.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Purification and properties of a glucuronan lyase from Sinorhizobium meliloti M5N1CS (NCIMB 40472).

A glucuronan lyase extracted from Sinorhizobium meliloti strain M5N1CS was purified to homogeneity by anion-exchange chromatography. The purified enzyme corresponds to a monomer with a molecular mass of 20 kDa and a pI of 4.9. A specific activity was found only for polyglucuronates leading to the production of 4,5-unsaturated oligoglucuronates. The enzyme activity was optimal at pH 6.5 and 50 degrees C. Zn(2+), Cu(2+), and Hg(2+) (1 mM) inhibited the enzyme activity. No homology of the enzyme N-terminal amino acid sequence was found with any of the previously published protein sequences. This enzyme purified from S. meliloti strain M5N1CS corresponding to a new lyase was classified as an endopolyglucuronate lyase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Sex-biased dispersal in a migratory bat: a characterization using sex-specific demographic parameters.

We studied the noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula), in which the mitochondrial F(ST) is about 10 times that revealed by nuclear markers, to address two questions. We first verified whether random dispersal of one sex is compatible with highly contrasted mitochondrial and nuclear population structures. Using computer simulations, we then assessed the power of multilocus population differentiation tests when the expected population structure departs only slightly from panmixia. Using an island model with sex-specific demographic parameters, we found that random male dispersal is consistent with the population structure observed in the noctule. However, other parameter combinations are also compatible with the data. We computed the minimum sex bias in dispersal (at least 69% of the dispersing individuals are males), a result that would not be available if we had used more classical population genetic models. The power of multilocus population differentiation tests was unexpectedly high, the tests being significant in almost 100% of the replicates, although the observed population structure infered from nuclear markers was extremely low (F(ST) = 0.6%).

Animals↗